SANTA MARTA, November 13, 2017 - If there was a city in
Colombia that needed a hopeful show at the moment, it is Santa Marta. And the XVIII
Bolivarian Games is a dream that became reality and will put the city on the international map.

This historical event began with a tribute to the
sea, the Sierra Nevada, indigenous communities and Gabriel García Márquez, winner of 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature.

More than 3000 athletes from the 11 participating National Teams,
paraded through the stage proudly wearing their uniforms.

Following the tour,
the Mayor of Santa Marta addressed the attendees where he expressed full
gratitude to those who believed in this project, that will divide
the history of the city in two.

"The
Bolivarian Games reinforce the brotherhood of the Bolivarian countries,"
said Martinez.

Also, Danilo
Carrera, president of the Bolivarian Sports Organization ODEBO, praised the
commitment made by the local administration and the organizing committee.

"18 months ago
there was only dirt and mud here," said Carrera, which is why he
congratulated the Samarians for leaving Colombia in high regard to the invited teams.

For her part, the
director of Coldeportes, Clara Luz Roldán, revealed the game’s
slogan "We Dream It, We Achieve It", this is a reality and it is
grateful to the Ministry of Sports. "I declare officially the opening of the
2017 Bolivarian Games based in the Pearl of America".

The ceremony closed
with a musical performance of Santa Marta's local Carlos Vives, who, with his
energy and love for the city that characterizes him, ignited even more the
emotion of all spectators. ChocQuibTown, the group from the Pacific region closed the ceremony.

The Bolivarian flame has already lit the cauldron at the football stadium and until
November 25, the city will only breath Bolivarian Games.

HISTORY

The
Bolivarian Games is a multi-sport event that aims to unify the South American
countries that were part of the conquering force of Simón Bolívar.

The
Colombian Antonio Nariño Chayne was in charge of promoting the creation of this
great sporting event that would be under the command of the Bolivarian nations.

Bolivia,
Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela are the 6 liberated countries
after the colonization by Simón Bolívar and to his honor, in 1938 the first
edition of the Bolivarian Games was organized in Bogotá, Colombia, these games
were planned under the characteristic view of the Olympics, but its difference
lies in its historical wealth and philosophical conception, however at present,
the Bolivarian Sports Organization (ODBO) allowed the entry of Chile as new
member while Paraguay, Guatemala, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic have
participated as invited countries.

So far, 17
editions have been organized, and by vote of the Nationals Olympic Committees
(NOCs) and the Bolivarian Sports Organization (ODEBO), -which is part of the
Pan American Organization, a subsidiary of the International Olympic
Committee-, the chosen county and city is elected.

The Bolivarian Games
are held every 4 years, interval instituted since 1941 by the NOCs. This
sporting event commemorates the start of the Olympic cycle in the region that
ends with the Olympic Games.